The Jigawa State government said it has spent N29.19 on the education sector in the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, representing 11 per cent of the total budget allocated to the sector.
The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Babangida Umar Gantsa, revealed this while speaking with newsmen in Dutse.
The commissioner also dispelled a report published by an online media outlet claiming that Jigawa recorded zero spending on education in the first quarter of the year, describing the report as baseless and lacking any iota of truth.
He maintained that the Governor Umar Namadi-led administration is fully determined to make education accessible and affordable to every child, from primary to higher institutions. Therefore, it has never neglected the required financial backing in implementing policies, projects, or programmes in the sector.
“Not only in the education sector, but the preparation and implementation of the Jigawa State budget across all sectors is also done in a transparent process. Every allocation and expenditure is uploaded on the state website for public access,” Hon. Babangida further stated.
He added that out of the total expenditure, ₦11 billion was spent on recurrent expenditure, while ₦18 billion was allocated to capital projects across primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
“Under Pre-Primary and Primary Education, the report shows an original budget of ₦83,701,075,000.00 and an actual Q1 expenditure of ₦10,167,982,643.91, representing 12.1% performance.”
“Under Secondary Education, the original budget was ₦39,477,425,000.00, while actual Q1 expenditure stood at ₦3,639,861,420.60, representing 9.2% performance.”
“Under Tertiary Education, the original budget was ₦59,326,983,000.00, while actual Q1 expenditure stood at ₦4,936,760,317.06, representing 8.3% performance.”
The report also records expenditure under other education functions, including Education Not Definable by Level, Subsidiary Services to Education, and Research and Development.
The commissioner then charged the publishers of the baseless story to go back and check the records and report them accurately. He also urged them to avoid misleading and misinforming the public, for the sake of their integrity and professionalism.
